Domestic ironing board

ABSTRACT

An ironing appliance offering a mini-board means built into the parent contour disposed to selectively swing outwardly for use. In the closed position, it serves to enlarge the board extremity and thereby speed up the ironing chore through reduced manipulation of the work. A control is provided to support and lever a desired position. Understructure leg supports are set apart to provide knee space and work with board extremity bracing to produce an unobstructed separation between the mini-board and the ironing board. A snap on cord curbing unit and flatiron arrestor are accessories that attach the board and complete the ironing appliance in eliminating rumpling of the work by the cord while giving the flatiron safe rest and storage.

United States Patent Shettel DOMESTIC IRONING BOARD [72] Inventor: Ralph E. Shettel, Route 1, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 60,242

[52] US. Cl ..38/107, 108/59 [51] Int. Cl. ..D06l 81/00 [58] Field of Search ..38/107, 135, 103,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 751,674 2/1904 McKenzie..- ..38/139 2,939,232 7/1960 Munson ..38/139 955,526 4/1910 Miller ..38/l35 2,287,646 6/1942 Steele ..38/107 X 2,645,045 7/1953 Lewis ..38/l07. 2,888,759 6/1959 Vennen ........38/135 2,955,370 10/1960 Tipping .;....38 /135 complete 51 Oct. 17, 1972 3/1969 Conley et al 108/78 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-George V. Larkin 57 ABSTRACT An ironing appliance offering a mini-board means built into the parent contour disposed to selectively swing outwardly for use. In the closed position, it

serves to enlarge the board extremity and thereby speed up the ironing chore through reduced manipulation of the work. A control is provided to support and lever a desired position Understructure leg supports are set apart to provide knee space and work with board extremity bracing to produce an unobstructed separation between the mini-board and the ironing board. A snap on cord curbing unit and flatiron arrestor are accessories that attach the board and the ironing appliance in eliminating rumpling of the work by the cord while giving the flatiron safe rest and storage.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DOMESTIC IRONING BOARD It is common and often preferred that domestic ironing practices produce a smooth finish to miscellaneous tubular shapes, free of rumpling. In the past, this has been accomplished through the use of a supplemental miniature board, or so called sleeve board, sized especially for that purpose. Obviously there are other ironing practices particularly suited to the proportions of the mini-board.

Accordingly, existing mini-boards require support on the conventional ironing surface or other available counter or table surface. The operator, therefore, experienced a degree of inconvenience in its use, and there was nuisance in its storage too.

This present invention relates to these particular problems by including certain appropriate features within and adjacent the conventional ironing surface configuration to thereby advance its function as an ironing appliance. 7

Therefore, it would be an object of the invention to provide an improvedarrangement whereby the miniboard can be created out of the parent structure and gain in efficiency and convenience.

Another object of the invention would be to provide support and control devices that permit and facilitate this functional arrangement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is applied to the associated drawing, wherein like numerials refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the ironing appliance showing understructure folding action;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ironing appliance with the mini-board extended;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof showing the board surface configuration;

FIG. 4 is a section of a surface alinement means taken along line 4, of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the mini-board linkage means, as seen in FIG. 7;

FIG. 6 is a toppled view of the ironing appliance showing the structures positioned for storage; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing the structure extended.

With reference to FIG. 2, the complete ironing appliance 10 is seen as comprising an assembly of five major parts, a longitudinal table or surface 12 including mini-board 14, controlling lever 20, supporting structure 40, flatiron arrestor 30 and cord curbing unit 8. Flatiron cord curbing unit 8 (U.S. Pat. to Shettel, No. 3,48 l ,5 70) is snapped in place at either board edge for selective right or left hand use. Flatiron arrestor 30 is located outside and adjacent surface 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ironing appliance includes a mini-board, 14 of FIG. 3, which nests against the parent contour of surface 12. A pivot or hinge connection at 13 permits mini-board 14 to swing laterally and produce longitudinal separation 15, of fig. 2, to allow its function in the ironing process. A substantial narrowing of the board extremity, as at 16 further diversifies the board proportions for selective use. Separation need be only a minimal amount. For flat work and the like, surface restoration, as in FIG. 3, produces the blunted extremity that helps ease and speed that phase of the work. A surface override 17 is provided to cover the operational heel swing of miniboard 14, as at of FIG. 2.

Functionally, the disclosed mini-board concept is flexible to any position along the parent contour. It may be mounted on either side for left or right hand use. The dictates of manufacture and proving will sort out the possibilities, even including that of a stationary mini-board combination.

Also, with the inclusion of cord curbing unit 8, to space the cord away from the work, and arrestor 30, to selectively hold a flatiron in place: ready for use, all of the work surface is available for the ironing process, free of use overlap. A shorter board, by the amount usually reserved by the flatiron, is anticipated and preferred since it brings the flatiron arrestor within easy reach. A slightly wider ironing surface is included to complete its design.

The outward and inward levering of mini-board 14 could be accomplished by hand, with a suitable frictional pivot or hinge means holding the desired position. A closing joint that is longitudinally channeled or rabbetted will insure a surface restoration which is maintained by a simple latch means. Such a joint could be elliptically shaped, as at 18 of FIG. 4 for example, to produce an uninterrupted surface. It is important that ridging and overlap resulting from unequal working pressures over the joint be eliminated.

However, linkage 20, of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, is preferred in providing remote leverage and support for the function of mini-board 14. From a midportion bend which is pivotly attached to framework 11, as at 24, outwardly and forwardly radiating arm members 22 work together to lever an opening or closing. The outwardly projecting arm 22 has an extremity handle 21 which is positioned for easy touch; identity and operation from a working position on either side of surface 12. Pivot bend 24 produces arm offset which causes the forward projecting arm to thread opposite heel frame perforations 25, of FIG. 7 which could include split vinyl inserts 26 of FIG. 5 for a quiet operation. The distal end of forward arm 22 has a lateral pin portion 27 which is located in side frame bore 28, and is spring loaded at 29 to force its concealment with the miniboard in the open position. A suitable bracket means, as at 23, mounted to frame 11 contains the forward extremity for mini-board levering, while permitting initial pin displacement. It will be seen that support has been given the inside corner of mini-board l4, and a contributing support is realized in the cantilever of arm 22. Inserts 26 and bores 28 are slightly elongate horizontally to permit some operational drift along arm 22, but a frictional sizing vertically is necessary to maintain position and surface alinement. Opposite bore 28, in the parent board frame, selectively receives pin 27 to thereby pilot and locate the closing joint while maintaining surface identity. Pin 27 should be removable for ease of installation. A locator bracket portion 19 is attached to framework 11 apart from handle 21 to selectively hold the position of mini-board 14 through the location of control 20 in one of its slots.

Separation 15 must obviously be unobstructed along its length, as in FIG. 2, to afford access in the use of the mini-board. Conventional cross support structures may be modified to meet this requirement. A new approach, however, is proposed which can be more easily viewed in the toppled position of FIGS. 6 and 7. Supporting structure 40 has spaced apart leg members 42 whose extremity engagement with a longitudinal track or guide means 44 creates knee space while permitting a limited travel for height adjustment, as at 45, and folding storage, as at 47 of FIG. 1. Track 44 depends symmetrically from framework 11 for that function, and pawled trigger 43 will key leg 42 to track 44 for selective position. In traveling track 44, leg 42 can be adjusted for board height, with its outward extreme giving maximum height, or it is held in its inward extreme for storage, after pulling yoke 46 to fold flat with it. Yoke 46 is mobilized through conventional pivotal attachments with the leg, as at 48, and extends upwardly and outwardly to support and brace the extremities of surface 12 through similar pivotal attachments. The attachment with mini-board 14 is special in that a slip joint 49 is required in consideration of the movement described for its operation. The configuration of yoke 46 provides a structural spread permitting an unobstructed gap for mini-board use. Leg 42 has a foot 41 which rests on the floor in all positions, including storage.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this presentation has produced a simple ironing appliance serving the objects of the invention.

While the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it will be understood that it is capable of modification, within the language of the appending claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ironing board comprising an elongated unitary top member with one tapered end and two parallel side edges, a cutaway portion along one side edge, a co-extensive frame attached to the bottom surface of the board, a mini-board pivotally mounted along the side edge of the board to fill the cutaway portion when in closed position and capable of pivotal movement away from the board to leave a gap therebetween, the miniboard and ironing board being rabbetted to provide an uninterrupted ironing surface when in closed position, linkage means mounted on the frame to effect movement of the mini-board and a pair of spaced legs mounted on said frame for the support of the board.

2. The ironing board of claim 1, said legs being foldable against said frame through selective location along a track means mounted on the lower surface of the board, and pivoting yoke members interconnecting said frame and said legs to effect stability when in use.

3. The ironing board of claim 1, said linkage means including a pair of pivoting arms with an operating handle at the end of the one arm, a latching device mounted on the lower board surface, said one arm having selective position by said latching device, said second arm having a spring urged pin on the distal end thereof, said pin adapted to enter a hole in the frame to align the ironing board and mini-board when the miniboard is in closed position. 

1. An ironing board comprising an elongated unitary top member with one tapered end and two parallel side edges, a cutaway portion along one side edge, a co-extensive frame attached to the bottom surface of the board, a mini-board pivotally mounted along the side edge of the board to fill the cutaway portion when in closed position and capable of pivotal movement away from the board to leave a gap therebetween, the mini-board and ironing board being rabbetted to provide an uninterrupted ironing surface when in closed position, linkage means mounted on the frame to effect movement of the mini-board and a pair of spaced legs mounted on said frame for the support of the board.
 2. The ironing board of claim 1, said legs being foldable against said frame through selective location along a track means mounted on the lower surface of the board, and pivoting yoke members interconnecting said frame and said legs to effect stability when in use.
 3. The ironing board of claim 1, said linkage means including a pair of pivoting arms with an operating handle at the end of the one arm, a latching device mounted on the lower board surface, said one arm having selective position by said latching device, said second arm having a spring urged pin on the distal end thereof, said pin adapted to enter a hole in the frame to align the ironing board and mini-board when the mini-board is in closed position. 